advisorWolff, E., Prof.authorDe Bruyn, Frans Roelf Petrus2014-03-10T06:47:39Z2014-03-10T06:47:39Z2014-03-101989http://hdl.handle.net/10210/9601Ph.D. (Psychology)In this study the illness behavior of people with a life threatening
illness was described and the relationship between stress, affect and
illness behavior investigated.
An overview of the literature shows that the illness behavior patients
exhibit is and should be an important consideration in the diagnosis of
illness and treatment of patients. This is evident in reports of a high
amount of ill people who do not receive treatment and the high amount
of patients who seek treatment for minor ailments. It is further evident
in the light of findings that illness behavior does not always accurately
represent the physical disfunction and that it may even be present in
:t- the absence of a physical disfunction.
The paucity of research on the illness behavior of specific patient
groups, and of information on the relative effects of physical versus
psychological factors on illness behavior, indicate a void in the
literature. The present study investigates this relationship in a group of
patients with a life threatening illness.
In the first phase of the study 15 kidney transplant patients were
compared to themselves, under normal conditions and conditions of
stress, regarding affect, the experiencing of stress and the reporting of
physical symptoms.
In the second phase of the study 15 kidney transplant patients were
compared to 15 patients with acute but minor ailments regarding the
reporting of physical symptoms, affect, the experiencing of stress and
the psychosocial impact of the illness.afrUniversity of JohannesburgKidneys - Transplantation - Patients - South AfricaSick - South Africa - PsychologySiektegedrag by 'n groep persone met 'n lewensbedreigende siekteThesis